Julius j



(No Model.)

J. J. SUOKERT. SEPARATING AND oooLING A SEALING 0R LUERIGATING LIQUID IN PRODUCING REFRIGERATION.

Patented June 16, 1885.

PETERS, Phnlv-Llmagmplmr, Walhinglnn DJ:

UNrTEn STATES PATENT @EETQE.

JULIUS J. SUCKERT, OE RIDGE\VOOD, NENV JERSEY.

SEPARATING AND COOLING A SEALING 0R LUBRICATING LIQUID IN PRODUCING REFRIGERATION.

Application filed May 18, 1855.

GIEICATIOIT forming part of Letters Patent No. 320,309, dated June 16, 1885.

(No model.)

C0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J ULIUs J. SUoKER'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ridgewood, county of Bergen, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Separating and Cooling a Sealing or Lubricating Liquid in Producing Refrigeration, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings,forming a part of thesame.

This invention especially relates to the cooling of a liquid employed for sealing or lubricatin'g purposes in gascompressors or rcfrig crating apparatus; but it is also applicable either as a whole or in part for cooling any liquids.

Hitherto, or prior to my own application for Letters Patent for improved systems and appatus for affecting a similar thing, the sealing or lul'iricating liquid used in gascompressors has been cooled by passing it through a vertical coil of pipe having water showered upon it, or the coil containing the lubricant has been submerged in a tank containing water, and when used submerged the coil has sometimes been made round instead of vertical to inclose it in. a cylinder in preference to a tank in the form of a parallelogram. \Vhen usedin this manner, the necessity for constant watchfulness and regulation has been at times some what troublesome if not embarrassing.

The object of my invention is to reduce the number of parts in a gas compressing or refrigerating apparatus that require attention, and to make such apparatus as nearly automatic as possible.

Another object is to provide a means of cooling liquids in places where it is not do sir-able to introduce a quantity of water.

Another object is, when using the improvement in conjunction with a gas compressing and liquefying apparatus, to utilize the water passing over the gas condenser, and by applying the warmest water as it passes from the condenser for the purpose to prevent liquefaction of the gas in transit to the condenser while passing through the reservoir in which the lubricant is cooled.

To this end the invention consists, first, of the process of cooling a liquid, which process consists in introducing the liquid to be cooled into a tank or receptacle and cooling the same by the vaporization of a liquefied gas in a chamber or in pipes or a coil of pipe forming part of a separate and closed circuit for the circulation of this gas under the liquefying pressure, and then passin the gas so vaporized to another chamber or to other pipes or a coil of pipe forming a part of such closed circuit operating as a condenser and liquel'ying it and then returning the gas so liquefied to the chamber, pipes, or pipe in which it was vaporized, as will hereinafter appear; se(ond, in. combining, with a tank or reservoir receiving a liquid to be cooled, two coils of pipe or two chambers which comnn'inicate with each other and form a closed circuit for the passage of a gas or liquid when one of the said coils or chambers is supplied with a liquefied gas which by its vaporization operates to cool a liquid within the said tank or reservoir, and the other coil or chamber is reduced in temperature by water or other cooling medium, and by such reduction in temperature operates to condense the vaporized and return it, when l.iquefied,to the coil or chamber in which it was vaporized, as it will hereinafter appear.

The invention further consists in combining the combination as described in the last section with the discharge-pipe of a gas-c0111- pressor, a gas-condenser, one or more separating tanks or liquid reservoirs, and connecting pi pes, as will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated an apparatus embodying the present improve ments.

In this apparatus a gas comprcssor, A, is provided with an auxiliary pump, B, that operates to introduce the sealing or lubricating liquid when cooled from the tanks 0 and G to the gas-compressor A.

The tank or reservoir 0 is interposed between the gas-comprcssor A and a gas-condenser. It is connected with the compressor by means of the discharge-pipe 50,having cock 49, and serves as aseparatingtank to separate all of the lubricant which is in liquid form from the compressed gas prior to the passage of such gas to the condenser. It also serves as a cooling-reservoir for the sealing or lubricating liquid collected therein. It is provided interiorly with a circular coil, 51, of

pipe that is supplied with a liquefied gas which cools the liquid collecting in the tank by its vaporization as it absorbs heat. The ends of the coil 51 connect with smaller pipes 22, which pass through the shell of the tank 0 and communicate with the vertical coil D by means of the pipes 52 and 53, that respectively have. stop-cocks 54 and 55, while the coil D is provided with a stopcock, 47. 'When these stop-cocks are open and the stopcock 42 closed, the two coils 51 and D communicate and a complete circuit is formed through which the gas circulates separate from the rest of the apparatus under its liquefying pressure. The coil D is placed immediately beneath the gas-condenser F and in line with it, so that water showered upon the condenser from a perforated trough, H, may flow from the condenser upon the coil D and abstract heat from the vaporized gas in this coil, thereby liquefying it. The condenser F communicates with the tank 0 by means of the pipe 20, having a check-valve, 21, and the stop-cocks 22 and 23, which may be used to introduce the gas into the condenser either at the top or bottom, as may be desired.

On the right-hand side of the condenser the return-bends used in constructing the coil are provided with outlet-pipes 24, 25, and 26, to permit the liquefied gas to escape from the coil and from contact when liquefied with the warm incoming gas, in case the gas is admitted through the stop-cock 22. When. so used, the cock 23 is closed. The outlet-pipe 24 is bent and passes through-- the T 27 and pipe 28. The pipe 28 is screwed and soldered into the T 27 and forms an annular passage around the pipe 24 that communicates with the-pipe 25 and permits the passage of liquefied gas from the condenser to the liquefiedgas receiver G. The pipe 26 connects with the T 29, which in turn connects with a larger pipe, 30, which encircles both of the pipes 24 and 28, forming an annular passage around the pipe 28 for the flow of liquefied gas from the pipe 26 to the receiver G. These pipes 24, 28, and 30 have their ends immersed in the liquefied gas L in the receiver G, forming a liquid trap which prevents the escape of unliquefied gas from the condenser. When these pipes are sealed by the liquefied gas, the liquefied gas flowing from the condenser F through the outlets 24, 25, and 26 will pass through the separate annular passage-ways to the receiver G. The pipe 31, communicating with the top of the condenser and the receiver G, has a cock, 32, and serves to permit the escape of any gas vaporized in the receiver G to the condenser for reliquefaction. glass gage, 33, attached to it, and supplied with cocks 34,to show the height of any liquids contained therein. The stop-cock 32 on the pipe 31 is used to shut off in case it becomes necessary to disconnect either part attached thereto.

The sealing or lubricating liquid that passes The receiver G has a double section from the reservoir 0 in the form of froth,foam, or vapor to the condenser and-is there condensed, passing thence with the liquefied gas through the pipes 24, 25,and 26 to the tank G, is represented in the receiver G by S.

The receiver G is provided with a pipe, 35, communicating with the tank 0, and conveys the lubricant back to the auxiliary pump B,to be reintroduced to the compressor A. This pipe 35, connecting the tanks 0 and G,has stopcocks 36 and 37 ,to shut off for disconnecting or for regulation of the lubricant, and a branch pipe, 48, having a stop-cock, 18, that connects with the pump B.

The liquefied-gas tank G has an outlet'pipe, 38, which is provided with two stop-cocks, 39 and 40, for conveying the liquefied gas from the tank G tothe expansion-coil I.

A pipe, 41, connecting the pipes 38 and 53, provides a means by which the necessary charge of liquefied is supplied from the tank G to the coil 51, which pipe has a stopcock, 42, to shut off as soon as the necessary quantity of liquefied gas has been supplied.

The tank 0 is provided'with a glass gage,43, to indicate the height of the liquid in the tank, and it is connected to the tank in the usual manner by pipes and two stop-cocks, 44.

The return gas or suction pipe conveys the expanded gas from the expansion or refrigerating coil I back to the compressor for recompression, and has a stop-cock, 46, to shut off for disconnection of the pump or other parts.

The check-valve 21 in the pipe 20 prevents the return of a liquid from the gas-condenser to the separating-tank 0 when the compressor is at rest.

The apparatus having been supplied with the necessary amount of liquefied gas and sealing or lubricating liquid, the operation is as follows: The compressor A having been put in motion, the compressed gas and the sealing or lubricating liquid, when discharged from the compressor, passes through the dischargepipe into the tank or receiver 0, and all the sealing or lubricating liquid that is in liquid form settles to the bottom of this tank, as shown by the shading, while the compressed gas,and that part of the sealingor lubricating liquid which is in the form of froth, foam, or vapor, pass upward through the pipe 20 and cheek-valve 21 to the top of the condenser, and then following the course of the return bends'and pipes downward, until they are both liquefied by the passage of cold water from the trough I-I over the outside of the condenserpipes F. \Vhen used in this way,the cook 22 is closed and the liquefied gas and sealing or lubricating liquid pass out of the outlet-pipes 24, 25,'a11d 26 to the tank G, where the liquefied gas is represented .by L, and the lubricant settling to the bottom in consequence of its greater specific gravity, is represented by S. The gas and vapor of the lubricant, instead of being forced through the pipe 20 to the top of the condenser F, may be passed through the pipe20, cheek-valve 21, stop cook 22, and the lower pipe of the condenser, in which case the stop-cock 23 on the pipe 20 is closed, the liquefied gas and the vapor and froth of the lubricant when liquefied passing out, asin the other case,through pipes 24, 25, and 26 to the tank G. The compression of the gas will raise its temperature, and with it that of the oil used as a lubricant. the condenser F has the heat of compression removed by the cold water from the trough H passing over the pipes of the condenser, but the sealing or lubricating liquid which was in liquid form when discharged into the tank 0, having been separated from the compressed gas, must now be cooled by some means preparatory to its reuse. This is effected by closing the stop-cocks 54 and 40 on the pipes 52 and 8S, and the cock 47 on the lower pipe of the coil D. As soon as a quantity of liquefied gas is collected in the tank G, the stop-cocks 39 and 42 are opened, andthc liquefied gasis permitted to flow from the tank G and fillt-he coil 51. \Vhen the coil is filled, the cook 42 is closed, and the cooks 54 and 47 are opened, thus forming an open circuit between the coil 5L in the tank 0 and the vertical coil D iuline with the condenser F, the gas being under the liquefying pressure. The warm lubricant separating in the tank 0 comes in direct contact with the pipes forming the coil 51, which are filled with the liquefied gas used as a refrigerating medium. The liquefied gas absorbs theheat from the sealing or lubricating liquid and vaporizes. As it vaporizes,it passes upward through the pipe 52 to the upper pipe of the coil D, and follows thence the form of the coil until it is condensed and liquefied, and again returns to the bottom of the coil 51 as a liquefied gas, to be again vaporized, and thereby continue this system of cooling the lubricant.

It will be observed that the water passing over the condenser must necessarily be increased in temperature before it passes upon the (oil D. Therefore the condenser will always present the coldest surface, .and the gas, upon entering the tank 0, will immediately take the shortest line to the coldest surface, which will be the inside surface of the condenser F. The coil 51 being, if anything, a little warmer than the coil 1), there can be no liquefaction of the gas in the tank 0 outside of the pipes of the coil 51. It will also be observed that liquids can be cooled by introducing a coil, as 51, into a receptacle holding the liquid, as O, and connecting the coil by pipes 52 and 53 with the necessary stopcocks with another coil, as D, which maybe placed at a considerable distance away, where it may be more desirable or convenient to use water for liquefying the gas.

It must also be evident that a jacket might be placed around the tank 0, or a close chamber be formed inside of the tank G, which, if connected to the pipes 52 and 53, and liquefied gas be expanded within said inclosure,

The gas passing off towould answer as a substitute for the coil 5], and other forms of chambers might be substituted for the coil D; but I consider this form prcterable.

The cooled lubricant may be drawn from the tank 0 through the cook 37, and from tank G through cock 56, to the pipe 35, and thence be conveyed to the auxiliary pump B for re introduction to the compressor A. If it is do sirable to use expansion coils for refrigerating or ice-making purposes, they may connect with pipe 38, and the liquefied gas can be introduced therein by opening stop-cock 40.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The process of cooling a liquid, which process consists in introducing the liquid to be cooled into a tank or receptacle, and cooling the same by the vaporization of a liquefied gas in a chamber. or in pipes or a coil of pipe forming part of a separate and closed circuit for the circulation of this gas under the liquefying pressure, and then passing the gas so vaporized to another chamber, or to other pipes or a coil of pipe forming a part of such closed circuit, operating as a condenser and liquefying it, and then returning the gas so liquefied to the chamber, pipe, or pipes in which it was vaporized, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a tank or reservoir receiving a liquid to be cooled, of two coils of pipe or two chambers which communicate with each other and form a closed circuit for the passage of a gas or liquid when one of the said coils or chambers is supplied with a liquefied gas, which by its vaporization operates to cool a liquid within the said tank or reservoir, and the other coil or chanr her is reduced in temperature by water or other cooling medium, and by such reduction in the temperature operates to condense the vaporized gas and return it when liquefied to the coil or chamber in which it was vaporized, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a tank or reservoir receiving a liquid discharged from the dischargepipe of a gas-compressor, of a coil of pipe or a separate chamber containing a liquefied gas operating by the vaporization of such gas to cool the said tank or its contents when the said chamber or the pipes of the said coil communicate to form a closed circuit with another coil or chamber which has its tempcrature reduced by contact with a cooling medium, and operating by such reduction of temperature to liquefy a gas within such coil or chamber, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a tank or reservoir containing a liquid to be cooled, of a coil of pipe or a separate chamber containing a liquefied gas operating by the vaporization of such gas to cool the said tank or its contents when the said chamber or the pipes of said coil communicate with another coil or chamber and form a part of a closed circuit, and

one of the said coils or chambers has its temperature reduced by contact-with a cooling medium, operating by such reduction of temperature to liquefy a gas within such coil or chamber, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a tank or reservoir for receiving a liquid to be cooled, oftwo or more coils of pipes or chambers whose inlets and outlets communicate with each other and form a closed circuit for the circulation of a gas or liquid, when one of the said coils is provided with a liquefied gas operating to absorb heat by,the vaporization of such gas, and

. another coil forming a part of the closed circuit has therein a gas or gaseous vapor at a pressure not less than the liquei'yingpressure, and is exposed to a cooling medium operating to liquefy such vaporized gas, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a tank or receptacle receiving the discharge from a gas-compressor, and having communication with a gas condenser, of a tank or receptacle receiving the gas liquefied in the condenser, a coil of pipe or chamber within the tank receiving the discharge from the compressor, which coil or chamber communicates with a gasliquefying coil outside of the said tank when the said coils are connected by pipes and stopcocks with a separate liquefied-gas reservoir, and are arranged and operate to cool a liquid in a tank receiving a liquid to-be cooled by the vaporization of a liquefied gas in one of said coils or chambers, substantially as described. 7. The combination, with a tank or reservoir receiving a liquid to be cooled, as O, of a cooling coil or chamber, as 51, and a gas-liquefying coil, as D, when the two coils are connected by conduits and stop-cocks forming a closed circuit, and one of the said coils is supplied with a liquefied gas, and the-whole are the vaporization of a liquefied gas under the liquefiving-pressure, substantially as described. 9. The combination of a gas-compressor, a

separating orliquid cooling tank or receptacle,

a check-valve and connecting-pipes, when the said cheek-valve is interposed between the separating-tank and the condenser and operates to prevent the return of a liquid from the condenser to the said separating-tank, substantially as described. q

10. The combination, with a tank or reservoir receiving a liquid to be cooled, of a cooling coil or chamber and a gas-liquefying coil when the two coils are connected by conduits and stop-cocks and form a closed circuit for the circulation of a gas or a liquefied gas, and the said circuit is provided with a pipe and stop-cock or valve for the introduction of a gas or liquid therein, and one of said coils is supplied with a liquefied gas and the whole are connected, arranged, and operate to cool a liquid by the vaporization of a liquefied gas, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JULIUS J. SUOKER'I.

Witnesses:

H. T. MUNsoN, J AMES J. KENNEDY. 

